The labour ministry has retracted a proposal to reduce trade union and industry representation in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), a move that some believe highlights an attempt to “listen to people’s voice” following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s rout in the Delhi assembly election.

At a tripartite meeting of government, employers’ and employees’ representatives as part of consultations to amend the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya conceded to the demand of trade unions not to cut either employees’ or employers’ representations in the EPFO’s central board from 10 each to five each.

The meeting was held on Wednesday.

“There was some disagreement regarding reduction in the size of CBT (central board of trustees) both from employers’ and employees’ side,” a labour ministry statement said on Thursday.